Santa Teresa (Rio de Janeiro)
Federal State
Santa Teresa is a picturesque, situated on a hill district of Rio de Janeiro. It is bordered to the deeper parts of the city Cosme Velho, Laranjeiras, Catete, Glória, Lapa, Bairro da Fátima. Of the latter two parts of the city it is only a short walk to the center.
Santa Teresa is completely different from the other districts of Rio. Especially Europeans drawn here, and not just as a tourist. Many foreigners, including a number of German who settled here and are thus in an old tradition. From time immemorial, Santa Teresa was a quarter in which German emigrants have felt at home.
When Rio was still the capital of the country, were located in this district, the foreign embassies.
The district has moved more and more into the center of tourist activities in recent years. In addition to small museums, restaurants and small bars also attracts the " Bonde " - the tram - with which you can drive up to the Corcovado where the statue of Christ.
The trams in Santa Teresa are still the only circulating in Rio de Janeiro. The first railway ran from 1859 in Rio, then still pulled by donkeys, but already in 1862 the railways were steam-powered tractors.
In 1896, the railways were electrified to Santa Teresa. From 1950, the phasing out of the tram operation in Rio began. By the year 1968, all routes were shut down except for the two lines to Santa Teresa: one to Largo das Neves, the other to Homeboys.
Both trails start near the Largo do Carioca, drive there from when the cars are full, the cross Arcos da Lapa - a bridge that crosses the Lapa - and then it goes up to Santa Teresa.
From the city center breakpoint you have to pay, we must go if you have a good physical condition to jump on the car and not have to pay. However, it has no claim to a seat yet that the train stops when you want to get off.
Due to a serious accident in August 2011 with five deaths, the operation of Bonde is currently set. It is planned to start operating with refurbished tracks and cars to the Olympics again.